Elevated lead in Michigan water declared hazardous waste, health emergency

The recent donations stem from the Genesee County Public Health Department’s warning for residents to not drink city of Flint water after Hurley Medical Center doctors found elevated lead levels in children since the city switched to the Flint River.

Local health officials declared a public health emergency after studies revealed elevated blood lead levels.

Flint initially began to pump water from the Flint River for its citizens in the interim period between switching from Detroit’s water system a year ago to a less-expensive system that pumps water from Lake Huron. Together, the UAW and GM hope to provide residents access to clean water. A few children have even tested above 6 percent. Students were urged to stop using the fountains.

School officials said they didn’t have list of all the donors but they are working on compiling the information.

“It appears from the data that there are a few serious issues and concerns with what happens when that water reaches the home”, the governor said Friday during a conference call.

Arthur Woodson yells into a megaphone while marching with other Flint residents outside Flint City Hall protesting the water quality in the city on Monday, October 5, 2015, in Flint, Mich. Tests have shown elevated lead levels in the drinking water after Flint began drawing and treating water from the Flint River. Snyder has said additional steps could include a temporary reconnection of Flint to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department system.

“We understand many have lost confidence in the drinking water”, said Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant. We need to build that back. “We need to do more”.

Anthony Scales, Raymond Carr, Clifton Sanders and Pollard have been taking truckloads full of water to Flint for about two weeks now and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.